Vernier LabPro
User’s Manual
Vernier Software & Technology
13979 SW Millikan Way
Beaverton, Oregon 97005-2886
(503) 277-2299
Toll Free (888) 837- 6437
FAX (503) 277-2440
www.vernier.com
info@vernier.com
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual Copyright 2000 by Vernier
Software & Technology. All rights reserved. You are entitled to
reproduce parts of this book for use in your school only. No part of
this book may be used or reproduced in any other manner without
written permission of Vernier Software & Technology, except in the
case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
The terms Vernier LabPro and Logger Pro are registered trademarks
of Vernier Software & Technology in the United States of America.
Graphical Analysis is copyrighted by Vernier Software &
Technology. CBL, CBL 2, and TI-GRAPH LINK are trademarks of
Texas Instruments Incorporated. Palm is a trademark of Palm, Inc.
Palm OS is a registered trademark of Palm, Inc. Visor is a trademark
of Handspring. Dana is a trademark of AlphaSmart, Inc. The term
Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
Windows is registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Published by
Vernier Software & Technology
13979 SW Millikan Way
Beaverton, Oregon 97005-2886
(503) 277-2299
FAX (503) 277-2440
www.vernier.com
info@vernier.com
Seventh Edition
First Printing
Table of Contents
Introduction .....................................................................................................................1
LabPro Components .......................................................................................................1
Buttons ........................................................................................................................2
Lights ...........................................................................................................................2
Beeps ..........................................................................................................................2
Providing Power to LabPro..............................................................................................2
Connecting Sensors........................................................................................................2
Computer and Software Requirements ........................................................................3
Attaching LabPro to a Computer ..................................................................................3
Starting Logger Pro Software and Preparing to Collect Data .......................................4
Where to Go Next ...........................................................................................................5
Tutorial: Temperature Measurement with Logger Pro .....................................................6
Using LabPro with a Calculator .......................................................................................7
Calculator Requirements..............................................................................................7
Connecting the Equipment...........................................................................................7
Calculator Program Installation ....................................................................................8
Starting the DataMate Program and Preparing to Collect Data ....................................8
Where to Go Next ...........................................................................................................9
Tutorial: Temperature Measurement with DataMate .....................................................10
Using LabPro Remotely ................................................................................................11
Using Logger Pro 3 ....................................................................................................11
Using Logger Pro 2 ....................................................................................................13
Remote Data Collection with DataMate......................................................................15
Sensor Warm-up Times .............................................................................................16
Using LabPro with a Palm Handheld .............................................................................17
Appendix A: Troubleshooting Tips............................................................................... A-1
Appendix B: Beep Sequences..................................................................................... B-1
Appendix C: Support Materials for LabPro .................................................................. C-1
Sensors.................................................................................................................... C-1
Adapters for Older Sensors...................................................................................... C-2
Additional Manuals................................................................................................... C-2
Appendix D: Updates to the LabPro Operating System............................................... D-1
Introduction
The Vernier LabPro is a versatile data collection interface that can be used to collect data in a
variety of ways in the classroom or in the field. It can be used with a computer, TI graphing
calculator, Palm™ and Visor™ handheld1, or as a stand-alone data logger. More than forty sensors
are available, including an Oxygen Gas Sensor, Relative Humidity Sensor, pH Sensor, Ion Selective
Electrodes, Motion Detector, Accelerometers, etc.
By following this guidebook, you will learn to
• Set up and collect data with a Macintosh™ or Windows™ computer through either the serial
or USB port.
• Set up and collect data with a TI-73, TI-73 Explorer, TI-82, TI-83, TI-83 Plus, TI-83 Plus
Silver Edition, TI-84 Plus, TI-84 Plus Silver Edition, TI-86, TI-89, TI-89 Titanium, TI-92, TI92 Plus, or Voyage 200 Texas Instruments graphing calculator.
• Use LabPro as a stand-alone data logger, and then retrieve data with a computer or a TI
graphing calculator.
LabPro Components
The LabPro package contains all the parts you need to connect LabPro to a computer or TI
graphing calculator. Those parts include
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
LabPro interface
User’s Manual
PC serial cable
Macintosh adapter for serial cable
USB cable
Voltage Probe
6-volt AC power supply
•
•
•
TI graphing calculator cradle (off white) for the TI84 Plus, TI-84 Plus Silver Edition, TI-89 Titanium
TI graphing calculator cradle (translucent blue
green) for the TI-73, TI-73 Explorer, TI-82, TI-83,
TI-83 Plus, TI-83 Plus Silver Edition, TI-86, TI-89.
17” and short calculator-to-calculator link cables
The LabPro interface has three buttons, three LEDs, four analog channels (CH 1, CH 2, CH 3, and
CH 4), two digital channels (DIG/SONIC 1 and DIG/SONIC 2), a serial computer connection, a USB
computer connection, a piezo speaker, and a calculator I/O port.
1
The Vernier Palm Handheld Data Collection Packages (order code DP-LP, DP-UP, DP-VP, and DP-DANA)
allow LabPro to work with the most popular Palm and Visor handhelds, and the Dana by AlphaSmart. For
details, see www.vernier.com.
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
1
Buttons
The three buttons on the top of LabPro are used for the following purposes:
•
•
•
TRANSFER begins transfer of calculator programs or applications (apps) between LabPro and
an attached TI graphing calculator.
QUICK SET-UP clears any data stored in LabPro’s memory, then polls all channels for autoID sensors and sets them up to collect data. QUICK SET-UP is used when neither a computer
nor a calculator is attached to LabPro and works only with auto-ID sensors.
START/STOP begins sampling for Quick Set-Up. Sampling continues until the default number
of samples is collected or you press START/STOP again. This button also acts as a manual
trigger for certain data-collection modes.
Lights
LabPro has three lights that indicate the LabPro status.
•
•
•
Red indicates an error condition.
Yellow indicates that LabPro is ready to collect data samples.
Green indicates LabPro is collecting data.
Beeps
LabPro has a piezo speaker that makes four kinds of sounds or “beeps.” Appendix B contains a
complete description of the conditions that cause these sounds.
• A “good” beep is a medium tone followed by a high tone.
• A “caution” beep is a medium tone followed by another medium tone.
• A “bad” beep is a medium tone followed by a low tone.
• A “tick” sound is made when a key is pressed.
Providing Power to LabPro
Batteries or AC power can power LabPro. To use LabPro with batteries, remove the battery
compartment cover from the underside of the interface. Insert four AA batteries and replace the
compartment cover. To use LabPro with the AC power supply, plug the round plug on the 6-volt
power supply into the side of the interface. Shortly after inserting four AA batteries or plugging the
power supply into the outlet, the interface will run through a self-test. You will hear a series of beeps
and blinking lights (red, yellow, then green) indicating a successful power up. If the self-test is not
successful, make sure that the batteries are installed correctly, and that they are still useable.
Connecting Sensors
Sensors can be divided into two basic types—analog and digital. Examples of analog sensors are
Temperature Probes, pH Sensors, Force Sensors, Oxygen Gas Sensors, etc. Up to four analog sensors can
be connected to LabPro. Four jacks for the analog sensors (CH1-CH-4) are located on the same side as the
AC Adapter Port. The analog ports accept British Telecom-style plugs with a right-hand connector.
Examples of digital sensors are Motion Detectors, Radiation Monitors, Photogates, and Rotary Motion
Sensors. Up to two digital sensors can be connected to LabPro. The digital ports (DIG/SONIC), which
accept British Telecom-style plugs with a left-hand connector, are located on the same side as the serial
and USB computer connections.
Connect the sensor to the appropriate port. An important feature of LabPro is its ability to detect autoID sensors, and automatically set up an experiment. If you are not using sensors with the auto-ID
ability, you can easily set them up with the experiments provided with the Logger Pro software.
2
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
Using LabPro with a Computer
This section provides the basics for collecting data with LabPro on a Macintosh or Windows
computer. All you have to do is connect LabPro, install the software, attach one or more sensors,
start the Logger Pro software, and you are ready to collect data.
Computer and Software Requirements
To use LabPro on a computer, you will need Logger Pro software2 running on a Power Macintosh
or Pentium or compatible PC. Check the Logger Pro software for system requirements.
Before you continue, check to see that Logger Pro is installed on your computer. If not, now would be
a good time to install it. The Logger Pro Quick Reference Guide describes the software installation.
Attaching LabPro to a Computer
The LabPro computer connection is located on the right side of the interface. The sliding door
found there can be moved left to reveal the serial port or to the right to reveal the USB port.
Serial Port and Digital Channels (USB Port is behind the sliding door)
Serial Connection to a Macintosh Computer
Attach the rectangular end of the Macintosh serial adapter to the PC serial cable. Plug the round
end of the Macintosh serial adapter into the computer’s modem or printer port. Slide the door on
the computer connection to the left and plug the other end of the serial cable into the serial
connection on LabPro.
USB Connection to a Macintosh Computer
Slide the door on the computer connection to the right and plug the square end of the USB cable
into the LabPro USB connection. Plug the other end of the USB cable into the USB port on the
Macintosh computer.
Serial Connection to a PC
Slide the door on the computer connection to the left and plug the round mini-DIN end of the PC
serial cable into the serial connection on LabPro. Plug the other end of the serial cable into the
serial port on the computer.
USB Connection to a PC
Slide the door on the computer connection to the right and plug the square end of the USB cable
into the LabPro USB connection. Plug the other end of the USB cable into the USB port on the PC.
2
Logger Pro 3 supports Windows 98 and newer. For Win 95 users, we recommend LP 2.2.1. Logger Pro 3
supports Mac OS 9.2, and Mac OS 10.2 or newer. For older Mac operating systems, we recommend Logger
Pro 2.2.1.
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
3
Starting Logger Pro Software and Preparing to Collect Data
Locate the Logger Pro icon on your computer and double-click on it, or use the Start menu
(Windows 95/98/2000/NT/ME/XP). An important feature of LabPro is its ability to detect auto-ID
sensors, and automatically set up an experiment.3
If Logger Pro does not detect your LabPro and/or a sensor is not connected, the Collect button will be
faded
. Make certain that you either LabPro, Go! Link, Go! Temp, or an Ohaus balance
connected to a serial or USB port of your computer and that it has power. Choose Connect Interface
from the Experiment menu. The computer will attempt to communicate with LabPro. If you see the
following message4, then Logger Pro is having trouble communicating with LabPro. Select the correct
port or check your current port and click OK. If this does not work, consult Appendix A.
Windows Setup Interface Dialog Box
Mac Setup Interface Dialog Box
If you have connected a Stainless-Steel Temperature Probe and the computer has detected the
LabPro interface, for example, you will see the following screen, which shows a graph of
Temperature vs. Time along with the current reading at the top.
Notice how the program automatically identified the temperature probe (an auto-ID sensor). The
current temperature reading is displayed in the status bar at the top of the screen. The default data
collection mode is time graph. In this example, you have a Temperature Probe, reading in Celsius,
and collecting data as a function of time for 120 seconds. If you now disconnect the Temperature
Probe, connect a different auto-ID sensor, and choose New from the File menu, Logger Pro will set
up a new experiment for the new sensor.
3
4
4
Logger Pro software contains experiment files for all Vernier lab manuals
The dialog boxes and screen displayed are from Logger Pro 3. Logger Pro 2 dialog boxes are different.
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
You are now ready to collect data. The next section is a tutorial that uses our Stainless-Steel
Temperature probe to investigate the response time of the temperature probe.
Where to Go Next
Since you may want experiments for a particular course, or detailed information on LabPro or
Logger Pro, the following manuals provide additional help. They are described in Appendix C.
Logger Pro tutorials are a great way to get acquainted with LabPro.
Lab Books
Physical Science with Computers
Biology with Computers
Chemistry with Computers
Advanced Chemistry with Vernier
Physics with Computers
Earth Science with Computers
Real-World Math with Computers
Water Quality with Computers
Middle School Science with Computers
Nuclear Radiation with Computers
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
Manuals
Logger Pro Online Help
Logger Pro Online Tutorials
LabPro Technical Reference Manual
5
Tutorial: Temperature Measurement with Logger Pro
A good way to get acquainted with LabPro is by performing a simple experiment. Using this
tutorial, you will take measurements using a temperature sensor. Follow the simple steps and you
are well on your way to collecting and analyzing data with a computer.
MATERIALS
Power Macintosh or Windows PC
LabPro interface
Vernier Stainless-Steel Temperature Probe
One 250-mL beaker or cup
100 mL hot water
PROCEDURE
1. Place about 100 mL of hot water into a 250-mL beaker or a cup.
2. Plug the Stainless-Steel Temperature Probe into channel CH 1 on LabPro, and lay the
temperature probe on the tabletop.
3. Start the Logger Pro software. Logger Pro will detect the auto-ID sensor, set the data
collection parameters, and computer display. In this case, collection parameters are 1.0 sample
per second and 120 samples. The program displays a graph and data table on the computer. The
vertical axis of the graph will have temperature scaled from 0 to 100°C. The horizontal axis
will have time scaled from 0 to 120 seconds. You are ready to collect data.
4. Click
to begin data collection.
5. Wait about 10 seconds and place the Temperature Probe into the cup of hot water, as shown
above. Allow Logger Pro to complete data collection.
6. Notice that the sensor does not read the new temperature instantly; it takes a moment to respond.
7. Now that the run is complete, pull down the Analyze menu and choose Examine. The cursor
will become a vertical line. As you move the cursor across the screen, temperature and time
values corresponding to the cursor position will be displayed. Move the cursor to the point
when the probe was first placed in the hot water. Record that time. Move the cursor to find the
highest temperature, and record that time. How long did it take for the temperature sensor to
stabilize at the water’s temperature?
This tutorial is an example of how easy it is to collect and analyze data with LabPro and a
computer. The auto-ID Stainless-Steel Temperature Probe simplified the experiment setup, but the
use of non auto-ID sensors is almost as easy. All you have to do is connect the sensor or sensors,
and open up an appropriate experiment file. Logger Pro software has over 500 experiment files.
This set of files is also includes experiments in our lab books.
6
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
Using LabPro with a Calculator
This section provides the basic steps for collecting data with LabPro and a Texas Instruments
graphing calculator. All you have to do is connect the hardware pieces to the calculator, attach one
or more sensors, start the DataMate calculator program, and you are ready to collect data.5
LabPro Interface, TI-83 Plus Calculator, and Stainless-Steel Temperature Probe
Calculator Requirements
LabPro can be used with any of these TI graphing calculators:
•
•
•
•
•
•
TI-73, TI-73 Explorer
TI-82
TI-83
TI-83 Plus, TI-83 Plus Silver Edition
TI-84 Plus, TI-84 Plus Silver Edition
TI-86
•
•
•
•
•
TI-89
TI-89 Titanium
TI-92
TI-92 Plus
Voyage 200
Connecting the Equipment
The first step is to connect the calculator and LabPro.
1. Select the proper cradle for your calculator. The off-white cradle accomodates the TI-84 and
TI-89 Titanium calculators. The translucent blue green cradle accomodates all other calculators
except for the TI-92, TI-92 Plus, and Voyage 200.
2. Insert the upper end of the calculator into the cradle.
3. Press down on the lower end of the calculator until it snaps into place.
4. Slide the bottom of the cradle onto the top of LabPro until it clicks in place.
5. Plug one end of the LabPro-to-calculator cable into the I/O port of the calculator. Plug the
other end into the bottom end of the LabPro.
5
The DataMate program supports all of the Vernier analog sensors, e.g. temperature, pH, force, drop
counters, and the Motion Detector. Calculator support for photogates, radiation counters, rotary motion
sensors, and drop counters is through separate programs. See the Beyond DataMate manual for details.
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
7
Calculator Program Installation
When it is time to collect data, you will run a program called DataMate on the calculator. Chances
are that DataMate is not on your calculator, but it is very easy to install.
1. Prepare the calculator to receive the program:
•
For the TI-73, TI-73 Explorer, TI-82, TI-83, TI-83 Plus, TI-83 Plus Silver Edition, TI-84
Plus, and TI-84 Plus Silver Edition turn on your calculator and press 2nd [LINK] (on the
TI-73 press APPS , then select Link…). Press
to RECEIVE, then press ENTER
(Waiting… appears on your screen).
•
For the TI-86, turn on your calculator and press
(Waiting… appears on your screen).
•
For the TI-89, TI-89 Titanium, TI-92, TI-92 Plus, and Voyage 200, turn on your calculator
and make sure that the calculator is on the Home screen. (You do not need to put the
calculator into the Receiving mode as is required with the other calculators.)
2nd
[LINK], then press
F2
2. Press the Transfer button on LabPro. “Receiving…” followed by a list of the loaded programs
(or application) is displayed on the calculator.
3. A “Done” message on the calculator and two beeps from LabPro will indicate the transfer is
complete. Press
2nd
[QUIT].
4. Verify that the programs have been successfully loaded.
•
•
•
•
On the TI-82, TI-83, press PRGM to see DATAMATE and its subprograms.
On the TI-73, TI-73 Explorer, TI-83 Plus, TI-83 Plus Silver Edition, TI-84 Plus, and TI-84
Plus Silver Edition press APPS to see DATAMATE.
On the TI-86, press PRGM then F1 to see DATAMATE and its subprograms.
On the TI-89, TI-89 Titanium, TI-92, TI-92 Plus, and Voyage 200, press 2nd [VARLINK] to see DATAMATE and its subprograms.
Starting the DataMate Program and Preparing to Collect Data
Use the following steps to start the DataMate program on your calculator:
TI-82, and TI-83 Calculators:
Press PRGM , then press the calculator key for the number that precedes
DATAMATE (usually 1 ). Press ENTER . An introductory screen will
appear, followed by the main screen.
TI-73, TI-73 Explorer, TI-83 Plus, TI-83 Plus Silver Edition, TI-84
Plus, and TI-84 Plus Silver Edition Calculators:
Press APPS , then press the calculator key for the number that precedes
DATAMATE. Press ENTER . An introductory screen will appear, followed
by the main screen.
8
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
TI-86 Calculators:
Press PRGM , press F1 to select < NAMES >, and press the menu key that
represents DataMate. (< DATAM > is usually F1 ). Press ENTER , and
wait for the main screen to load.
TI-89, TI-89 Titanium, TI-92, TI-92 Plus, and Voyage 200
Calculators:
Press 2nd [VAR-LINK]. Use the cursor pad to scroll down to “datamate”,
then press ENTER . Press ) to complete the open parenthesis of
“datamate(” on the entry line. Press ENTER . An introductory screen will
appear, followed by the main screen.
After the program begins, the calculator will try to communicate with the
interface and check for auto-ID sensors. If this communication is successful, the
main screen (shown below) will appear. If the calculator cannot establish a link
with LabPro, this menu appears. If you choose Continue With Interface, the
program will continue trying to communicate with the interface. If the
calculator cannot establish a link with LabPro, a Link Error message will
appear. Check that LabPro has power and that the link cable is properly
connected. This message will continue to appear until the link problem is fixed.
This is the main screen that appears after the calculator and interface are
communicating. In this example a Stainless-Steel Temperature Probe was
connected and DataMate automatically identified the Temperature Probe,
displayed the channel it was connected to and the current reading. DataMate also
sets up a default time graph experiment for auto-ID sensors. In this example, an
experiment was set up to collect data for 180 seconds.
You are now ready to collect data. The next section is a tutorial that uses our Stainless-Steel
Temperature Probe to investigate the response time of the Temperature Probe.
Where to Go Next
Since you may want experiments for a particular course, or detailed information on LabPro or
Logger Pro, the following manuals provide additional help. They are described in Appendix C.
Logger Pro tutorials are a great way to get acquainted with LabPro.
Lab Books
Physical Science with Calculators
Biology with Calculators
Chemistry with Calculators
Advanced Chemistry with Vernier
Physics with Calculators
Real-World Math with CBL 2 and LabPro
Water Quality with Calculators
Earth Science with Calculators
Middle School Science with Calculators
Nuclear Radiation with Computers and Calculators
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
Manuals
DataMate Guidebook
Beyond DataMate manual
LabPro Technical Reference Manual
9
Tutorial: Temperature Measurement with DataMate
A good way to acquaint yourself with LabPro is by performing a simple experiment. Using this
tutorial you will take measurements using a Temperature Probe. Just follow the simple steps, and
you are well on your way to collecting and analyzing data with a calculator.
MATERIALS
TI graphing calculator
LabPro interface
Vernier Stainless-Steel Temperature
Probe
One 250-mL beaker or cup
100 mL hot water
PROCEDURE
1. Place about 100 mL of hot water into a 250-mL beaker or a cup.
2. Plug the Stainless-Steel Temperature Probe into channel CH 1 on LabPro, and lay the
Temperature Probe on the tabletop.
3. Start the DataMate program. Press CLEAR to reset the program. DataMate will detect the autoID sensor, set the data collection parameters, and display the current sensor reading. The
experiment will collect temperature for 180 seconds.
4. Select START to begin data collection.
5. Wait about 10 seconds and place the Temperature Sensor into the cup of hot water as shown
above. A live graph will appear on the calculator screen. You can either allow DataMate to
complete data collection or press the STO key to stop data collection.
6. After the data collection is complete, an autoscaled graph of the data will appear. Notice that
the probe does not read the new temperature instantly; it takes a little while to respond. This is
a characteristic of the sensor. Use the
or
keys (or the cursor pad on the TI-89, TI89 Titanium, TI-92, TI-92 Plus, or Voyage 200) to examine the data points along the displayed
curve of temperature vs. time. As you move the cursor right or left, the time (X) and
temperature (Y) values of each data point are displayed below the graph. Move the cursor to
the point when the probe was first placed in the hot water. Record that time. Move the cursor to
find the highest temperature and record that time. How long did it take for the temperature
sensor to stabilize at the water’s temperature?
This tutorial is an example of how easy it is to collect and analyze data with LabPro and a TI
graphing calculator. The auto-ID Stainless-Steel Temperature Probe simplified the experiment
setup, but the use of non auto-ID sensors is easy too. All you have to do is select SETUP on the
main screen of DataMate. This will take you to the Setup screen. From here you can set up non
auto-ID sensors and make changes to the data collection mode. Complete details on these
procedures can be found in the DataMate Guidebook.
Full sets of experiments are available in our lab manuals.
10
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
Using LabPro Remotely
Having a computer or calculator attached to LabPro during data collection is preferable, because it
provides much more flexibility in your data collection and provides a screen for immediate
feedback of your results. There are times, however, when disconnecting LabPro from the computer
or calculator to collect data is useful. For example, remote data collection is perfect for gathering
acceleration data on a roller coaster. The following describes remote data collection with Logger
Pro 3 and Logger Pro 2 on a computer and with DataMate on a calculator.
Using Logger Pro 3
Note: If you are running a version of Logger Pro 3 older than 3.3, then refer to the program’s
Help file.
Quick Setup Method
Using the Quick Setup Method, you can collect data with LabPro, then retrieve it using a computer
running Logger Pro. This method will work only with auto-ID sensors, and it will collect 99 points
for each sensor.
1. Set up LabPro for remote data collection
a. Put fresh batteries in the LabPro.
b. Connect your aut0ID sensor(s) to LabPro.
c. Press the QUICK SETUP button. A flash of the yellow LED and two beeps will verify setup.
2. Collect data.
a. When you are ready to collect data, press the START/STOP button. You will hear a beep
indicating that data collection has begun. The green LED will blink each time a reading is made.
b. When data collection is completed, the green LED will no longer blink.6 You do not need to
press the START/STOP button to end data collection. (You can, however, stop data
collection early by pressing the START/STOP button before data collection is finished.)
3. Retrieve the data.
a. When data collection is finished, go to the computer and attach the interface.
b. Start Logger Pro.
c. If a Remote Data Available window appears, simply click the YES button and choose to
retrieve remote data into the current file. If a window does not appear when the interface is
reconnected, choose Remote Retrieve Remote Data from the Experiment menu.
to retrieve data into the LabPro Remote data set. You may want to rename the
d. Click
time and data columns after the data are retrieved.
Set Up for Time-Based Method
Using the Set Up for Time Based Method, you will use a computer to set up LabPro, detach it for a
real time data collection, and then reattach it to the computer to retrieve the data. This gives you
more flexibility than the Quick Setup Method. With this method, you can (a) use any sensors (not
just auto-ID), (b) control the time between samples, and (c) control the number of data points
collected (up to about 12,000).
1. Set up LabPro for remote data collection.
6
The duration of data collection depends on the sensor(s) connected.
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
11
a. Put fresh batteries in the LabPro.
b. Set up the sensors, LabPro, and Logger Pro just as you normally would to collect data in
Time Based mode.
button, choose Remote Remote Setup from the Experiment
c. Instead of clicking the
menu.7 A summary of your setup will be displayed.
to prepare the LabPro.
d. Click
e. Disconnect the LabPro from the computer.
f. If it has not already been saved, save the experiment file so it can be used to later retrieve
the data from LabPro.
2. Collect data.
a. When you are ready to collect data, press the START/STOP button.
b. When data collection is complete, the yellow LED will flash briefly. You can also stop data
collection early by pressing the START/STOP button before data collection is finished.
3. Retrieve the data.
a. Start Logger Pro if it is not already running. Choose Continue Without Interface in the
Connect LabPro dialog and click
.
b. Open the experiment file used to set up LabPro.
c. Attach LabPro to the computer.
d. If a Remote Data Available window appears, click the YES button. Click,
which
accepts the default to retrieve remote data into the current file. If a window does not appear
when the interface is reconnected, choose Remote Retrieve Remote Data from the
Experiment menu and follow the on-screen instructions.
e. The data will be retrieved.
Set Up for Selected Events Method
Using the Set Up for Selected Events Method, you will use a computer to set up LabPro, detach it
to collect individual data points, and then reattach it to retrieve the data. With this method, you can
use any sensors (not just auto-ID), and collect individual data points whenever you press the
START/STOP button.
1. Set up LabPro for remote data collection
a. Put fresh batteries in the LabPro.
b. Set up the sensors, LabPro, and Logger Pro just as you normally would to collect data using
the Selected Event mode.
c. Instead of clicking the
button, choose Remote Remote Setup from the Experiment
menu. A summary of your setup will be displayed.
to prepare the LabPro.
d. Click
e. Disconnect the LabPro from the computer.
f. If it has not already been saved, save the experiment file so it can be used to later retrieve
the data from LabPro.
2. Collect data. Every time you press the START/STOP button, LabPro will collect one data
point. The green LED will remain on and the yellow LED will flash with each reading. Repeat
as often as you want, for up to 99 readings.
7
Sensors that require a warm-up time may have additional on-screen instructions.
12
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
3. Retrieve the data.
a. Start Logger Pro if it is not already running. Choose Continue Without Interface in the
Connect LabPro dialog and click
.
b. Open the experiment file used to set up LabPro.
c. Attach LabPro to the computer.
which
d. If a Remote Data Available window appears, click the YES button. Click,
accepts the default to retrieve remote data into the current file. If a window does not appear
when the interface is reconnected, choose Remote Retrieve Remote Data from the
Experiment menu and follow the on-screen instructions.
e. The data will be retrieved.
Using Logger Pro 2
Quick Setup Method
The Quick Setup feature is very simple:
1. Set up LabPro for remote data collection.
a. Connect your auto-ID sensor(s) to LabPro. (Sensors that are not auto-ID cannot be used with
this method. The next two methods allow you to use auto-ID and/or non auto-ID sensors.)
b. Press the QUICK SETUP button. The yellow LED will blink twice and two beeps will be
heard verifying setup.
2. Collect data.
a. When you are ready to collect data, press the START/STOP button. The green LED will
flash during data collection.
b. When data collection is complete, the green LED will stop blinking.8 You do not need to
press the START/STOP button to end data collection. (You can, however, stop data
collection early by pressing the START/STOP button before data collection is finished.)
3. Retrieve the data.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Start Logger Pro (if it is not already running).
Select Retrieve Data from LabPro from the Remote menu.
Connect LabPro to the computer.
The data will be transferred from LabPro into Logger Pro. The labels and the units in the
column headings and on the graph may need to be changed to match the sensor.
Set Up for Time-Based Data Collection
Using the Setup for Real-Time Collect Method, you will use a computer to set up LabPro, detach it
for a real-time data collection, and then reattach it to the computer to retrieve the data. This gives
you more flexibility than the Quick Setup Method. With this method, you can (a) use any sensors
(not just auto-ID), (b) control the time between samples, and (c) control the number of data points
collected (up to 12,000).
1. Set up LabPro for remote data collection.
a. Set up the sensors, LabPro, and Logger Pro just as you normally would to collect data in
Real-Time Collect mode.
b. Be sure to save this setup in an experiment file.
8
The duration of data collection will vary from sensor to sensor.
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
13
button, select Remote→Remote Setup from the Experiment menu.
c. Instead of clicking the
d. Click the Setup button. The yellow LED on LabPro will come on, indicating that it is ready
to collect data.
e. Disconnect LabPro from the computer. Exit the Logger Pro program.
2. Collect data.
a. When you are ready to collect data, press the START/STOP button. The green LED will
flash each time a reading is made.
b. When data collection is complete, the green LED will stop blinking. You can, however, stop data
collection early by pressing the START/STOP button before data collection is finished.
3. Retrieve the data.
a. Connect LabPro to a computer.
b. Start the Logger Pro software.
c. Click the Open Experiment button, and open the experiment file you used in setting up the
remote experiment.
d. A dialog box labeled “LabPro Has Data” will appear. Click the Retrieve Data button on the
dialog box. (If this dialog box does not appear, select Remote→Retrieve Remote Data from
the Experiment menu.)
e. The data will be transferred from LabPro into Logger Pro.
Set Up for Selected-Events Data Collection
Using the Setup for Selected Events Method, you will use a computer to set up LabPro, detach it to
collect individual data points, then reattach it to retrieve the data. With this method, you can use
any sensors (not just auto-ID), and collect individual data points whenever you press the
START/STOP button.
1. Set up LabPro for remote data collection
a. Set up the sensors, LabPro, and Logger Pro just as you normally would to collect data using
the Selected Events mode.
b. Be sure to save this setup in an experiment file.
button, select Remote→Remote Setup from the Experiment menu.
c. Instead of clicking the
d. Click the Setup button. The yellow LED on LabPro will come on, indicating that it is ready
to collect data.
e. Disconnect LabPro from the computer. Exit the Logger Pro program.
2. Collect data.
a. Every time you press the START/STOP button, LabPro will collect one data point. Up to
99 data points can be collected.
3. Retrieve the data.
a. Connect LabPro to a computer.
b. Start the Logger Pro software.
c. Click the Open Experiment button, and open the experiment file you used in setting up the
remote experiment.
d. A dialog box labeled “LabPro Has Data” will appear. Click the Retrieve Data button on the
dialog box. (If this dialog box does not appear, select Remote→Retrieve Remote Data from
the Experiment menu).
e. The data will be transferred from LabPro into Logger Pro.
14
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
Remote Data Collection with DataMate
Quick Setup Method
The Quick Setup feature is very simple:
1. Set up LabPro for remote data collection.
c. Connect your auto-ID sensor(s) to LabPro. (Sensors that are not auto-ID cannot be used with
this method. The next two methods allow you to use auto-ID and/or non auto-ID sensors.)
d. Press the QUICK SETUP button. The yellow LED will blink twice and two beeps will be
heard verifying setup.
2. Collect data.
c. When you are ready to collect data, press the START/STOP button. The green LED will
flash during data collection.
d. When data collection is complete, the green LED will stop blinking.9 You do not need to
press the START/STOP button to end data collection. (You can, however, stop data
collection early by pressing the START/STOP button before data collection is finished.)
3. Retrieve the data.
a. You can retrieve the data by connecting the interface to a TI graphing calculator and
starting DataMate. A message will appear stating “DATA COLLECTION IS DONE. . .”
b. Press ENTER to proceed to the main screen.
c. Select TOOLS from the main screen.
d. Select RETREIVE DATA from the TOOLS menu. The data will be retrieved and one or
more graphs made available.
Set Up for Time-Based Data Collection
This method gives you more control of the data collection than the Quick Setup method, because
you have control of which sensors and what data collection sample interval will be used. This is
how it works:
1. Attach one or more sensors to LabPro. These sensors can be auto-ID or non auto-ID sensors.
2. Start the DataMate program. The program will detect auto-ID sensors. Non auto-ID sensors can
be set up manually. (Refer to the DataMate Guidebook for help.)
a.
b.
c.
d.
Select SETUP from the main screen.
to select MODE and press ENTER .
Press
Select TIME GRAPH from the SELECT MODE menu.
Select CHANGE TIME SETTINGS from the TIME GRAPH SETTINGS menu to set the
data collection rate.
e. Enter the time between samples in seconds (remember to finish your entry with ENTER ).
f. Enter the number of samples.
3. Set up the interface for manual triggering.
a. Select ADVANCED from TIME GRAPH SETTINGS.
b. Select CHANGE TRIGGERING from ADV. TIME GRAPH SETTINGS.
c. Select MANUAL from SELECT TRIGGERING.
9
The duration of data collection will vary from sensor to sensor.
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
15
d. Select OK three times to return to the main screen.
4. Select START to prepare LabPro for data-collection. The yellow light will come on, two beeps
will be made, and a message will appear stating that remote data collection has been set up.
5. Press
ENTER
to return to the main screen and choose Quit.
6. Disconnect LabPro from the calculator. To start data collection, press the START/STOP button on
LabPro. The yellow light will go off and the green light will blink during data collection.
7. When the green LED stops blinking and data collection is done, attach LabPro to the same
calculator and start the DataMate program. The program will detect that data has been collected by
LabPro and will display a message about retrieving the data. Press ENTER on the calculator. On the
main screen, select TOOLS, and then select RETRIEVE DATA on the TOOLS menu. The data
will be retrieved and one or more graphs made available.
Sensor Warm-up Times
Some sensors require a certain warm-up period before an accurate measurement can be taken.
LabPro handles this automatically in remote modes by warming up each sensor for the appropriate
amount of time. The Turbidity Sensor, for example, requires a 2-second warm-up period.
The table below lists all sensors with warm-up times of 2 seconds or longer. If a sensor is not on
this list, its warm-up time is negligible.
Sensor
Warm-up Time
(s)
Ammonium Ion-Selective Electrode
Calcium Ion-Selective Electrode
Chloride Ion-Selective Electrode
CO2 Sensor
Colorimeter
Conductivity Probe
Dissolved Oxygen Probe
Dual-Range Force Sensor
Electrode Amplifier
Flow Rate Sensor
Force Plate
Nitrate Ion-Selective Electrode
Oxygen Gas Sensor
pH Sensor
Turbidity Sensor
UVA Sensor
UVB Sensor
2
2
2
90
300
2
600
2
30
2
2
2
2
30
2
2
2
The following sensors cannot be set up to collect remote data:
Digital Control Unit
Drop Counter
Heat Pulser
Photogate
16
Radiation Monitor
Student Radiation Monitor
Rotary Motion Sensor
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
Using LabPro with a Palm Handheld
In addition to using LabPro with a computer, a calculator, or as a stand-alone device, LabPro can also
be used to collect data with a Palm handheld. The Vernier Palm Handheld Data Collection Packages
allow LabPro to work with the most popular Palm and Visor handhelds.
Each package includes the following:
Data Pro software on CD
Palm-to-LabPro cradle
Palm-to-LabPro cable
In short, load Data Pro software onto your Palm or Visor handheld, connect the handheld to your
LabPro (with our Palm-to-LabPro cable and cradle), attach a Vernier sensor, and begin collecting
data. For details, see http://www.vernier.com/palm.
Data Pro Software
•
Supports more than 30 Vernier sensors using LabPro’s analog and digital channels.
•
Supports Vernier auto-ID sensors. Data Pro is able to identify the sensor, load calibrations,
and assign labels and units.
•
Using the Palm stylus, you can quickly navigate between the data table, graphs of data, and
analysis tools, or zoom in on regions of data on graphs.
Supported Handheld Devices
•
Palm handheld, Palm OS 3.3 or newer recommended:
m125, m130, m500, m515, m705
m100, m105, III, IIIe, IIIx, or IIIxe
Zire 71, Tungsten T/T2/C/W
•
Visor-connector handheld: Visor, Titanium, Visor Neo, Visor Prism, Visor Pro
Dana by AlphaSmart
•
Zoom in
View your collected data in a data table
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
17
Appendix A: Troubleshooting Tips
Problem
When LabPro is used with the
computer the Logger Pro 3
Collect button is faded (or the
Logger Pro 2 Collect button
does not appear).
Cause/Solution
The Collect button does not appear because the computer
could not communicate with the interface. Check each of the
following:
• Make sure the cables are firmly attached.
• Make sure LabPro is connected to the correct port on the
computer.
• Confirm that the port on the computer is working properly.
• Make sure the interface has power—either AC or battery.
When LabPro is used with a
TI graphing calculator, I get a
link error message
This message appears when the calculator cannot
communicate with the interface. Check the following:
• Make sure the cables are firmly attached to the calculator
and LabPro.
• Make sure the interface has power—either AC or battery.
• Note: To use the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition with LabPro you
need to have the latest version of the Operating System on
your Graphing Handheld. For the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition,
you need to download version 1.15 or higher of the TI-83
Plus Operating System from http://education.ti.com
The sensor is not working.
This may be happening because the sensor is not plugged into
the correct port. Since LabPro has 4 analog and 2 digital ports,
make sure that the sensor is connected to the proper port.
The readings are noisy.
LabPro may be picking up interference from other electrical
devices, such as a computer. Move the LabPro interface at
least 30 cm from another computer.
When LabPro is plugged into
AC power, the lights and
beeps are not generated.
When LabPro powers up, lights and beeps signal a successful
self-test. If batteries are already installed in LabPro, the selftest will not be performed.
When connected to USB, a
light can be seen blinking
inside the interface.
This is normal operational when LabPro is used through a
USB port.
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
A-1
Appendix B: Beep Sequences
LabPro makes four kinds of sounds or “beeps.”
•
•
•
•
A “good” beep is a medium tone followed by a high tone.
A “caution” beep is a medium tone followed by another medium tone.
A “bad” beep is two high tones.
A “tick” sound is made when a key is pressed.
The following bullets explain when beep sequences occur and what the beep sequences mean:
• When LabPro completes initialization, you will hear the startup sequence: bad beep, caution beep,
good beep (6 total beeps, plus LEDs light up in this order: red LED, yellow LED, and green LED)
• When you press the QUICK SETUP button:
− the caution beep sounds if a sensor is attached to LabPro.
− the bad beep sounds if no sensors are attached to LabPro.
• When LabPro is connected to a calculator during sampling commands:
− the caution beep sounds when initializing data collection.
− the caution beep sounds when starting data collection (transition from pre-store to store).
− the caution beep sounds when completing data collection.
Note 1: If the sampling timing causes the beeps to run together, the LabPro software may not sound all
the beeps.
Note 2: You will not get all the beeps when Fast Sampling is enabled.
Note 3: You will not get all the beeps when using triggering.
• When you set LabPro for manual trigger and press the START button, a caution beep sounds.
• When you press the TRANSFER button:
−
−
the good beep sounds when the transfer succeeds.
the bad beep sounds if the transfer fails for any reason.
• When an overcurrent condition is detected, five bad beeps sound. (This causes an error, which
causes even more beeps to sound.)
• When LabPro begins a full self-test, three good beeps sound.
• When self-test completes:
−
−
the good beep sounds if self-test passes.
the bad beep sounds if self-test fails.
• When LabPro’s base code detects an error in the commands sent from the host, a bad beep sounds
twice.
• When LabPro powers up:
− two bad beeps sound if the base code is not loaded.
− three bad beeps sound if the power-up self-test fails.
•
During base code download, three bad beeps sound when any errors occur. (The unit resets and
then the two bad beeps mentioned in the previous bullet sound.)
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
B-1
Appendix C: Support Materials for LabPro
Sensors
Sensor
3-Axis Accelerometer
25-g Accelerometer
Low-g Accelerometer
Barometer
CO2 Gas Sensor
Colorimeter
Conductivity Probe
Current Probe
Differential Voltage Probe
Digital Control Unit
Dissolved Oxygen Probe
Drop Counter
Dual-Range Force Sensor
EKG Sensor
Exercise Heart Rate Monitor
Extra Long Temperature Probe
Flow Rate Sensor
Force Plate
Gas Pressure Sensor
Instrumentation Amplifier
Ammonium Ion-Selective Electrode
Calcium Ion-Selective Electrode
Chloride Ion-Selective Electrode
Nitrate Ion-Selective Electrode
Light Sensor
Magnetic Field Sensor
Microphone
Motion Detector
ORP (Oxidation-Reduction Potential) Electrode
O2 Gas Sensor
pH Sensor
Radiation Monitor
Relative Humidity Sensor
Respiration Monitor Belt (requires GPS-BTA)
Rotary Motion Sensor
Sound Level Meter
Stainless Steel Temperature Probe
Student Radiation Monitor
UV-A and UV-B Sensors
Turbidity Sensor
Thermocouple
Vernier Photogate
Voltage Probe
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
Order Code
3D-BTA
ACC-BTA
LGA-BTA
BAR-BTA
C02-BTA
COL-BTA
CON-BTA
DCP-BTA
DVP-BTA
DCU-BTD
DO-BTA
VDC-BTD
DFS-BTA
EKG-BTA
EHR-BTA
TPL-BTA
FLO-BTA
FP-BTA
GPS-BTA
INA-BTA
NH4-BTA
CA-BTA
CL-BTA
NO3-BTA
LS-BTA
MG-BTA
MCA-BTA
MD-BTD
ORP-BTA
O2-BTA
PH-BTA
RM-BTD
RH-BTA
RMB
RMS-BTD
SLM-BTA
TMP-BTA
SRM-BTD
UVA/UVB-BTA
TRB-BTA
TCA-BTA
VPG-BTD
VP-BTA
C-1
Adapters for Older Sensors
Vernier sensors purchased prior to the introduction of LabPro can probably be adapted to work with
LabPro. Most of our analog sensors were previously manufactured with a round, 5-pin “DIN” plug.
If you have one of these older DIN sensors, you will need a DIN-to-BTA adapter (order code DINBTA, $5). This chart shows some of the adapters or replacement cables that can be used with other
sensors. You may have sensors that do not appear in this table. Contact us to discuss your situation.
Sensors Purchased Prior to 2000
Vernier Analog 5-pin DIN sensors
Vernier Photogate (with removable cable)
Radiation Monitors
Motion Detector (with removable cable)
Motion Detector (without removable
cable)
Rotary Motion Sensor
Adapter or Cable
Order Code
DIN to BTA adapter
DIN-BTA
Digital Photogate Cable
PG-BTD
Radiation Cable
RAD-BTD
Motion Detector Cable
MDC-BTD
CBL-RJ11 Adapter
CBL-RJ11
Rotary Motion Adapter
ROT-BTD
Additional Manuals
There are a number of additional manuals that can help you use LabPro with a computer or calculator.
LabPro Technical Reference – The reference provides detailed information on the LabPro
hardware and the software command structure. This manual is available free from our web site,
www.vernier.com.
Logger Pro Tutorials – This manual provides an excellent introduction to the Logger Pro
software. The tutorials show you how to collect data with a Temperature Probe and a Motion
Detector. It also introduces you to the analysis features of the program.
Logger Pro User’s Manual – This manual is a complete reference to the software. This manual
and the Logger Pro Tutorials are a part of the Logger Pro package. The User’s Manual can also
be found on the Logger Pro software CD.
DataMate Guidebook – This guidebook provides a complete look at the DataMate calculator
program. This manual can also be downloaded from our web site, www.vernier.com.
Lab Manuals - Lab manuals in physical science, biology, chemistry, advanced chemistry, earth
science, physics and water quality enable you and your students to quickly begin using LabPro in
the classroom and in the field. Each manual contains
•
•
•
C-2
Ready-to-use student experiments.
Teacher section for each experiment with complete directions, helpful hints, and sample
graphs and data.
Word processing files of the student sections on CD, so labs may be edited to your specifications.
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
Physical Science with Computers ....................... PSC-LP
Physical Science with Calculators ...................... PSCALC
Some of the experiments are
•
•
•
Energy Content of Foods and Fuels
Reflectivity of Light
Acid Rain
•
•
•
First-Class Levers and Pulleys
Lemon “Juice”
Graphing Your Motion
Biology with Computers ...................................... BWC-LP
Biology with Calculators..................................... BWCALC
Some of the experiments are
•
•
•
Diffusion through Membranes
Transpiration
Biological Membranes
•
•
•
Cellular Respiration
Photosynthesis
Watershed Testing
Chemistry with Computers .................................. CWC-LP
Chemistry with Calculators................................. CWCALC
Some of the experiments are
•
•
•
•
•
•
Vapor Pressure of Liquids
Hess’s Law
Determining the Concentration of a
Solution
Conductivity of Saltwater
Acid-Base Titration
Pressure-Temperature Relationship in Gases
Advanced Chemistry with Vernier ...................... CHEM-A
Some of the experiments are
•
•
•
Standardizing a Solution of Sodium
Hydroxide
The Molar Mass of a Volatile Liquid
The Synthesis and Analysis of Alum
•
Determining the Half-Life of an Isotope
•
•
Acid-Base Titration
Determining Avogadro’s Number
Physics with Computers ...................................... PWC-LP
Physics with Calculators..................................... PWCALC
Some of the experiments are
•
•
•
Newton’s Second Law
Projectile Motion
Ohm’s Law
•
•
•
Bungee Jump Accelerations
Sound Waves and Beats
Accelerations in the Real World
Real-World Math with Computers ...................... RWC-LP
Real-World Math the CBL 2 and LabPro ........... RWCALC
Some of the experiments are
•
•
•
Interpreting Graphs
Periodic Phenomena
Straight Line Distance Graphs
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
•
•
•
Exponential pH Change
How Objects Cool
The Inverse Relationship
C-3
Water Quality with Computers............................ WQ-LP
Water Quality with Calculators .......................... WQCALC
Some of the experiments are
•
•
•
•
Total Solids
BOD
Fecal Coliform
Ammonium Nitrogen
•
•
•
•
Dissolved Oxygen
Phosphates, Ortho- and Total
Nitrate
Stream Flow
Middle School Science with Computers.............. MSC-LP
Middle School Science with Calculators ............ MSCALC
Some of the experiments are
•
•
•
The Greenhouse Effect
Solar Homes
Graphing Your Motion
•
•
•
Heart Rate and Exercise
A Water Field Study
Soil Study
Earth Science with Computers ............................ ESC-LP
Earth Science with Calculators .......................... ESC-CALC
Some of the experiments are
•
•
•
The Greenhouse Effect
Solar Homes
Soil pH
•
•
•
Water Treatment
UV Light and Clothing
Wind Power
Nuclear Radiation with Computers and Calculators....... NRCC
Some of the experiments are
•
•
•
C-4
Distance and Radiation
Counting Statistics
Half-Life Measurements
•
•
•
Background Radiation Sources
Counting Statistics
Alpha, Beta, and Gamma
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
Appendix D: Updates to the LabPro Operating System
Since LabPro has Flash memory, you can update your interface with the most recent operating
system, also called firmware. There are two methods of updating the Flash on your interface.
You can use either the LabPro serial or USB cable or a TI-GRAPH LINK™ cable to upgrade the
operating system. In either case the files you need and the instructions for the update can be
downloaded from the Vernier web site (www.vernier.com/calc/flash.html).
Please note that if you connect a LabPro with an outdated operating system to a computer and
start Logger Pro 3, the program will display a message stating that the operating system needs to
be updated. You will need to perform the update. Since the update can take several minutes, it is
recommended that you use the LabPro USB cable to perform the update. If you select Cancel
Update, Logger Pro 3 will not be able to communicate with your LabPro.
If you are not prompted to update your LabPro but the Update LabPro button from the LabPro
sensor dialog is highlighted, it means there is a newer operating system available. You can
continue to use LabPro without a problem if you choose to skip this update.
Note: The operating system update is much faster with a USB connection than with a serial
connection.
Vernier LabPro User’s Manual
D-1